
11th to the 16th of February 2013
Ashirwad Global Learning Centre (Seva Bharat),
Koremella Village, Ghatkesar Mandal, Rangareddy District, Hyderabad-Andhra Pradesh - 501301 India For further information contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Igniting the Ends of the Earth
The world is changing rapidly. Some of it is good while there is plenty that is bad, with sins of violence, corruption, bribery, sexual immorality, homosexuality, gay marriages, millions of abortions, AIDS, addictions, human trafficking, and sectarianism, sadly even within the established church. With most countries at the edge of fiscal cliff, not to mention frequent environmental mega–disasters, one would imagine that the world has reached tipping point and ready for implosion.
However, there is good news also. The simple house group movement has simply gone viral in many countries but especially so in many 10/40 Window countries, where just a decade ago, Christ was not known. Stunningly it is not the religious superstars but the simple women, some like the Samari-tan woman, even non/semi-literate ones, who are driving the change, with 85% or more houses of peace being birthed by them. Women are the custodians of faith in any culture and in hostile restricted communities they are playing a pivotal role in quietly advancing the Kingdom at the fringes. Reaching the ends of the earth is now no longer a distant dream.
This is Harvest Time
Be the light among those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Be the Tree of Life wherever you are planted. Women play a significant role in this because they are naturally relational and have relatively easy access in restricted communities, to witness, pray for the sick, find persons of peace and plant replicating worship groups. This Summit is designed to encourage and empower such women.
Four billion people of the world, half of them women, still need to hear the gospel in their culture, context and heart language. There is an urgent need for mentoring and mobilizing a new generation of Apostolic women with confidence and competence to equip tri-generational leaders to finish the task of the Great Commission. The coming of our Lord is imminent so “everyone must reach someone.” Many nations persecute Christians hence planting below the radar small groups of 2 or 3 provide, safety, security and abundant fruitfulness. They are flexible, free and reproducible.
The Father is restructuring His church from being hearers of the Word to doers of His will. James 1:22
Global Summits orchestrated by Starfish Alliance
Leveraging House Churches in November 2009, Delhi. Global Marketplace Summit held in February 2011, Bangalore. Global Summit for the Sons of Ishmael in October 2011, Hyderabad. Summit for Buddhist Background Believers in August 2012, Chiangmai, Thailand. Delegates from around 50 nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and from Myanmar to Mongolia have already participated in these Summits. The concept of organic house groups as the platform for reaching all nations, tongues and tribes, is now being viralized in many countries, and CPMs are starting everywhere. It is now crucial that competent coaches are equipped in numbers innumerable with the cutting edge biblical concepts, insights, skills and best practices, to build up an unstoppable Disciple Making momentum with special focus on women.
WELCOME - Women, Men and Youth leaders There are direct flights from New York, Newark USA, London UK, Europe and many Middle East and South Asian countries to Hyderabad, India. So come or sponsor someone and have a spiritual feast in warm and sunny Hyderabad. Registration fee includes food and simple accommodation for 10/40 Window candidates for six days is only $120 per person while for others from the West, it is $300 DATES: 11th—16th FEBRUARY 2013
THE CHALLENGE—GO AND CHANGE YOUR WORLD
For centuries, the worldwide church has been dominated by men resulting in a dysfunctional church that lost its mandate to fulfill the Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations, tongues and tribes. God the Father is once again pouring out His Spirit on all flesh, especially women, thus restoring the original gender-neutral New Testament form and function of the Body of Christ. Affinity groups are now sprouting up everywhere and the Lord is adding tens of thousands of new believers daily, flocking in homes, offices, market place, schools, hospitals, banks, clubs, beauty parlors and coffee houses to eat, meet, gossip the gospel and multiply.
There is an urgent need for teachers who pass on information and insights, coaches to pass on skills, mentors and spiritual fathers and mothers to impart vision and character to turn these new believers into dynamic disciples who can go and turn their world upside down. The time for status quo is over. Come and share how the Lord is transforming your nation.
Disabled and sick people, including actor and comedian Francesca Martinez, have launched a petition calling for an end to what they call the 'War on Welfare' (WOW) being waged by their own Government. The campaigners want an independent, cumulative impact assessment of the Coalition's controversial Welfare Reform Act, which has attracted massive opposition from charities, experts, peers, community groups, disability organisations, churches and civic groups. The activists include people with learning and mental health difficulties, their families and carers. ‘The welfare budget, and particularly benefits going to sick and disabled people, has been heavily and unfairly targeted for cuts,’ says War on Welfare. Spearheaded by actress and comedian Francesca Martinez the WOW petition aims to get 100,000 signatures to end this War On Welfare by the Government. A remarkable 2,000 people had signed the petition on the Government's own e-democracy website within a little over four hours of its launch.
Pray: that this initiative will result in an end to this war on welfare for the needy. (Ps.9:18)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17654
Children are still turning up to school hungry and skipping meals at lunchtime because they cannot afford to eat, research suggests. Some youngsters have been spotted stealing toast as they are so hungry, and in another case, a teacher found two girls sharing a packed lunch in the school toilets because one had no money for food, according to a report by the Children's Society charity. The study, based on a survey of around 570 teachers, reveals serious concerns among school staff. Almost three in four (72%) of the teachers surveyed said they have seen pupils coming into school with no lunch and no way to pay for one. Nearly half (45%) said that children are often hungry during the school day. The study, conducted with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT), also reveals that two-thirds (66%) of school staff say that teachers are providing pupils with food or money for meals if they turn up for lessons hungry.
Pray: for the children who are missing out on lunches because of poverty or stigmatism. (Pr.10:
Anti-poverty campaigners delivered a copy of the Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to George Osborne. Alan Pinch, a Quaker, Stephen Pennells, a Roman Catholic, and Graham Martin, an Anglican, are all supporters of Church Action on Poverty. They fear that Britain may be returning to the levels of poverty and contempt for the poor described by Dickens in A Christmas Carol. The trio cycled to the Chancellor's constituency office in Knutsford where they dropped off the festive classic. The 20-mile journey started at Manchester's Albert Square Christmas Market and stopped along the way so that members of the public could sign a statement to the Chancellor. Pinch said: ‘Chancellor Osborne is at severe risk of turning into a modern day Scrooge, and we want to add our voices to the many calls for him to change track.’
Pray: that the message behind this topical one will be taken seriously and encourage the Chancellor to change track. (Ecc.8:1)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/dont.be.a.scrooge.christians.tell.chancellor/31213.htm
David Davis hopes to overturn a ‘gross injustice’ against the former chief whip Andrew Mitchell over a confrontation with officers in Downing Street, stating the Police had been called into question by a series of recent revelations. Davis said the Police log has ‘very similar wording’ to two emails sent to an MP by a serving officer who claimed to have witnessed the incident. The MP handed the emails to No 10. The Police Officer has now admitted he was not present. The Police log and emails claimed the incident was witnessed by several people. CCTV footage shows only one member of the public witnessed the incident. Mitchell and Davis were refused permission by the Met commissioner to see the Police log and are relying on a newspaper version which Davis said, ‘If it is an accurate account of the Police log it would get torn to shreds in Court for what was clearly not true.’
Pray: for a fair enquiry that resolves this issue and for any hidden agendas to be revealed. (Ps.15)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/dec/19/david-davis-police-andrew-mitchell
A young Kyrgyz girl is forced to work in a sewing workshop after being tortured by her parents in Kyrgyzstan because she converted to Christianity, well-informed investigators said on Tuesday, December 18. The troubles began when the girl ‘accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour’ during a church meeting despite opposition towards Christians in this heavily Islamic nation. When her parents found out about her decision, they were very upset and took her home to their village where she was soon mistreated. They wanted her to recant and renounce her faith in Christ, so they began to beat her systematically till she lost consciousness. Yet the girl did not give in said Open Doors, which is in close contact with local believers. They then started pulling her hair and put her face against the stove, burning her face. In spite of this, she remained faithful, the group claimed.
Pray: for those who are persecuted for their belief, to be protected from those wishing them harm. (Ps.71:13)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/25344-kygyzstan-girl-burned-for-faith-in-christ
A young Kyrgyz girl is forced to work in a sewing workshop after being tortured by her parents in Kyrgyzstan because she converted to Christianity, well-informed investigators said on Tuesday, December 18. The troubles began when the girl ‘accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour’ during a church meeting despite opposition towards Christians in this heavily Islamic nation. When her parents found out about her decision, they were very upset and took her home to their village where she was soon mistreated. They wanted her to recant and renounce her faith in Christ, so they began to beat her systematically till she lost consciousness. Yet the girl did not give in said Open Doors, which is in close contact with local believers. They then started pulling her hair and put her face against the stove, burning her face. In spite of this, she remained faithful, the group claimed.
Pray: for those who are persecuted for their belief, to be protected from those wishing them harm. (Ps.71:13)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/25344-kygyzstan-girl-burned-for-faith-in-christ
Police in Uzbekistan on 1 December raided a group of about 80 Protestants on holiday together, Forum 18 News Service has learned. Charges under six different articles of the Code of Administrative Offences have been brought against four of the group, who were meeting together discussing their faith and singing Christian songs. Police confiscated three Bibles and 100 Christian songbooks, insulted the group, and took the fingerprints of all present. People must worship ‘only in registered places specifically set up for religious purposes’, police insisted to Forum 18. In November three Protestants were fined sums of between 100 and 20 times the minimum monthly wage for meeting together, reading their Bibles, singing Christian songs, praying, and possessing religious books – all without state permission. The books, including Bibles, were ordered to be destroyed.
Pray: that God will bless and protect those who gather to worship. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://www.forum18.org/
Police in Uzbekistan on 1 December raided a group of about 80 Protestants on holiday together, Forum 18 News Service has learned. Charges under six different articles of the Code of Administrative Offences have been brought against four of the group, who were meeting together discussing their faith and singing Christian songs. Police confiscated three Bibles and 100 Christian songbooks, insulted the group, and took the fingerprints of all present. People must worship ‘only in registered places specifically set up for religious purposes’, police insisted to Forum 18. In November three Protestants were fined sums of between 100 and 20 times the minimum monthly wage for meeting together, reading their Bibles, singing Christian songs, praying, and possessing religious books – all without state permission. The books, including Bibles, were ordered to be destroyed.
Pray: that God will bless and protect those who gather to worship. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://www.forum18.org/
The Situation in the North
Kim Jong Un's policies that seem to be aimed at creating a more modern and appealing North Korea continue to draw the ire of the ordinary people leading to some new crack downs on complaints. At the same time, there are steady efforts to build the personality cult of the new leader through, among other things, postage stamps, new mosaics (also leading to complaints) and new Kim Jong Un badges. There is also a new effort to court international approval through such things as celebrating Mother's Day for the first time in many years. At the same time the food situation continues to be difficult, particularly as soldiers take to thievery from the fields to gain money of their own.
The government continues to struggle to prevent the flow of information into the country and people out. A new ban on travel to China is in force for the period leading up to the first anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il. In spite of these efforts, information does continue to get in.
It will be a while yet before we are really able to get a sense of the direction in which the new government is taking the country even though it has been a year now since Kim Jong Il died on December 17th of last year. At the same time there are those who continue to do humanitarian work--as Christians--and run businesses--as Christians--in North Korea with little change from before.
We continue to pray that Kim Jong Un will bring in new economic policies that truly benefit the people and provide for more openness in real ways. Join us in these prayers.
In His Name,
Ben Torrey,